Sun-bath apparatus



N0v4,193o. G. A. PROC-ma 1,780,363

- SUN BATH APPARATUS Q Filed Dec. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-sheet -1 ryu - I N VEN TOR. @Wye/, M051 A TTORNEYJ Nov. 4, 1930. G. A. PRocToR SUN BATH APPARATUS.'

Filed Deo. 27, 1928 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A sa K INVENTOR. 6207EA. ,P/af BY m /f/ ATTORNEY5 NW 4, 1.930 G. A. PROC-ron I 1,780,363

lSUN BATH APPARATUS Filed nec. 27. 1928 'sandy-smet s Ill w I Qa?.

1 r, l l! .fr I K l L.. u

A TTORNEY `.Patented Nov.-

PATENT ori-'lcs GEORGE A. PROVIDE, Ol' LOS ANGELE, CALIFORNIA. v

SUN-Barn Arrmrus Application med December 27, 1928. Serial No. 888,881.

This invention relates to an apparatus for sun baths and more particularly to the construction of a housing comprising a compartment for helio-therapeutic treatments.

5 Broadly, m invention includes the provision of a helm-therapeutic compartment in which the occupant 1s exposed to the suns rays without being viewed from the outside.

The principal objects and advantages which 10 characterize the present invention reside in the provision of an improved sun bath apparatus having means for admitting helio rays while excluding view of the interior thereof from' outside; the provision of a novel grid 15 having pivotedl closely spaced strips shiftable to be in valignment with the suns rays for admission thereof within the compartment; the provision of a helio-therapeutic housing compartment with sides, ends and a top, in which 2 is secured novel screens permitting passage of light but shielding the occupant from view. A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for helio-thera eutic treatments which can be. easily manu actured, being simple and inex ensive in structure, and which is eilcient an reliable in operation.

The invention is broadly new, basic and pioneer in that I rovide a novel light trans'- mitting top y 'd or shielding from view the together with translucent screens for theside and end walls.

While I shall describe my invention as being particularly useful as an apparatus for helio-therapy treatments, it will be understood that the invention is ycapable of .embodiment in whole or in part in similar and non-analogous arts, and therefore finds a wide field of utility for use of the apparatus other than described here.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention and discovery appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings A Fig. 1 is a perspective elevational' view of one form ofthe pparatuswith a translucent cover detached therei'ro 'y the cover boingi partly' broken away.

' toprgrid.

ccupa'nt wit in the treatment compartment, z

Fig. 1 is afra menta viewn rs tive of a modicatiorgi of th lvygrid. Pe Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 in the direction ofl the' arows, with the translucent cover re- Il move Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 ofFig..l .A

2 in the direction of the arrows.

FigA is a sectional view taken on the line v 4- -4 of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows, 00 with the translucent cover in lace.' Fig. 5 is a sectional view ta en on the line of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows.- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view .of the ,i i

1g. 7 is a transverse sectional view of one' end of the embodiment illustrated in`Fig. 1 showing a mirror attached to the screen sup- Y portlng means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal view 7o showing a modification ofthe grid and actuating means threfor. l 4 ,2 .4F1g. 9 is a transverse view of Fig. 8 taken on the line 9--9 in the direction ofthe arrows. Fig. 10 is a 'fragmentary longitudinal view showing another modification of the grid, taken on the line4 10--10 of Fig. .11 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a `fragmentary transverse 'view 86 partl in section of the modification illustrate in Fig. 10.

In the drawings 10 desi ates the a paratus housing consisting o frame wor embodying the lower frame 11,7top frame 12, 86 and upright frame members 13. The' frame- 'work comprises a skeleton frame with an open bottom, top front, rear, and side faces. Preferably, the sheleton frame is made from angle irons suitably secured g and secured on thelower frame is the ooring 14 which ma?Y be of wood or any other suitable 4materia Y A. peripheral rim or wall`15 is preferably 9B secured to thev lower portion of the front, rear, and side faces of the framework, providing an absol te opaque shield to precludewiew ofthe' am during the course of treatment when in.' stretched or reclined' 1'00' l together in any -well known manner. Arrange position on or near the floor. The rim extends a considerable distance above the lower frame, but at the front face it is of somewhat less height, as at 16, thereby provid ing a lower step-over 17 comprising one face of the rim which is attached to the entrance side or front of the skeleton frame. The step-over 17 is preferably' provided with a plurality of independent slots or louvers 1S to facilitate the ventilation of the interior of the housing compartment 16, while 'substantially precluding view therethrough. A door or closure member 18 may be slidnbly mounted on the inside of the step-over 17, so as to be movable to close or open said slots.

Secured to the front end 19 forming the entrance to the compartment is the door 19 hinged at 2O tothe frame upriglits.v The two side faces of the frame, and the end opposite the door, are covered by a novel light transmitting translucent screen 21. rl`he screens are held between the flanges 22 of the upper frame 12 and flat strips 22 respectively by a suitable bolt and nut clamping means 23 (see Figs. 4 and 5). In like manner the screens 21 may be preferably. secured to flanges of the lower frame and side members, altliough,vif desired, the screens may be secured to the rim 15, as Well as to the various frame members, by' any well known means.

To obtain more light rays within the coinpartxnent, the dc or 19 is also preferably covered with a screen 21.' The ends 24 of the upper frame 12 are provided with sloping upper faces forming an apex 25.

For forming a rigid frame construction there is disposed between-the sides 13 the brace 26 having leg members 27 secured to the upper and lower frames and embodying a sloping top comprising the apex 28. Associated with the top frame is the'bent light transmitting translucent cover screen 29 comprising the sloping sides 29a and .29b adapted to rest Vonand conform to the contour of the slopin'gnfaces of the ends of the top frame and of the brace 26.

Disposed within the upper top frame is the grid 30 which, as shown lin Fig. 1. may comprise a plurality of ,longitudinally disposed iiXed spaced strips 31 suitably secured to the upper frame by flanges 32, or in any well known manner. Cooperating with the s aced fixed strips, and extending perpenicular thereto, are the pivoted strips 33 carried by pivot rods 34 suitably journalled in the upper frame. strips 33 are adapted to form a grid'eil'ect with the fixe'd'strips, and are angnlarly adjustable longitudinally of said upper frame by reason of their connection to pins 35 car-V ried by the rack bar 36 having secured thereto the clevis 37 holding cable 38 which is trained over pulley 39 suitably journalled within the top frame. The rack bar 36 is also provided with a clevis 40 holding cable 41 which is also The transverse pivoted' traiuod'over pulley 39 independently of the cable 38. Thus, it is apparent that the pivoted strips actuated by the cable constitute an adjustable light admitting grid. The pivoted strip 33 adjacent each end of the frame (see Figs. 3 and 4) is reduced in size and provided with the freely swinging lower portion 42 pivoted at 43, to permit full adjustment, but in a shorter space.

In Fig. 1, the coacting strips of the grid are arranged so that the closely spaced transverse strips 50 are fixed within the upper frame 12 and the closely spaced longitudinally disposed movable strips 51 are pivotally carried by the pivot rods and extend between the fixed stri s 50. rl`he pivoted strips 51 may be adjusted y means similar to those descriied above for adjusting the transverse pivoted strips 33 of Fig. 1. lan this case, control of the amount of light permeating through the grid is governed by means of the longitudinal strips 51 moving relatively in a transverse zone in their angular travel between the transverse fixed strips 50. Ou the other hand, the grid of the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1 comprises essentially longitudinally disposed iiXed strips 31 between which are arranged tranverse pivoted spaced strips 33 adjusted to move relatively in a longitudinal zone in their angular adjustment between the fixed transverse strips 31. A 'lfhe translucent screens 21 carried between the upper and lower frames and on the door 19, together with the bent cover screen 31, consist of a metallic screen meshing, such as ordinary window screen, which is coated with a translucent but non-transparent film of material over the meshes, such as a 'thin layer of clear or colored lacquer, to permit passage of the suns rays, but preventing view of the occupant within the compartment from the outside.

Provision has been made for refiecting the suns rays which ordinarily would not reach the occupant within the treatment compartment, by `reason of the angular position of the sun beyond the limits for proper adjustment of the movablestrips. To this end, a mirror 60 (see Fig. 7 having the reflecting surface 61 disposed inwardly, rests at its lower end against rim 15, and the upper portion of the mirror is held by a link or wire 63 suitably supported by the upper frame. In this way,

sun rays such as E, and F, which ordinarily ytitl ror may be varied by changing or adjusting the length of link or wire 63.

In operation of the apparatus above described the occupant may sit, stand' or lie fully stretched or reclined upon the floor or upon a bed or the like, andadjust the movable pivoted strips 33 (or 5l) to be substantially in alignment with the suns-rays by manipulating either of the control cables such as 38 or 41. The direction of the suns rays is indicated by the inclined arrow at A in Fig. 3, after having p'assed the top bent screen 29 if the latter is employed during the course of the treatment. These rays, as shown, pass through the adjusted meshes of the grid between the pivoted strips 33. In this way the occupant may feel freely at ease during the course of the treatment in being shielded from view from the outside. View `from any direction materially different from that of the suns rays, such as indicated by the arrow at I3 in Fig. 3, is prevented by the angularly adjusted strips 33, While view from an appreciable angle to either side of the verr tical plane of the sunsrays, for example from a direction such indicated by.. the arrow at C in Fig. 5, is prevented by theclos'e'- ly spaced fixed strips 31. Of course, the housing compartment may be made of any de- .sired size and the bentY cover screen may be dispensed with if desired. Such cover is intended mainlypfor use in cold or windy Weather, or for"'covering the apparatus in case of rains.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9, each of the closely spaced adjustable trans verse strips comprises a plurality of segments secured, as by a pair of inverted Ushaped spaced clips 74, to an upper pivot rod 71 extending transversely of the grid frame 72, said segments extending between the closely spaced longitudinally disposed fixed strips 73. The lower portions ot' thc movable segments 70 are secured as by a single U-shaped clip 74, to a lower shift-ing rod 7 5. Of course, for each row of movable segments there is provided an upper and lower rod, such as the transverse spaced rods 71 and 75 respectively.- The lever 76 fulcrumed at 77, to a post or standard such as 27, Within the housing, operates a bar 78 connected to the lower rods 7 5 for changing the angular position of the movable segments 70, and any suitable means may bel provided for holding and locking actuator lever 76 in properly adjusted position. An advantage of this construction is that the lower edges of the individual segments 70 are moved positively by rods 75, so that said segments may be made of thin and light Weight material, such as light cardboard.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 10 andll, the grid comprises a plurality of closely spaced adjustable strips or slats 80 extending longitudinally of the grid frame 81, and disposed below the slats 80 are a plurality of closely spaced adjustable strips or slats 83. Slats 80 may be secured by clips 80 to longitudinal rods S4, While sla-ts 83 may be secured by clips 83 to transverse rods 82, so that both of the sets of perpendicularly arranged slats 8O and 83 may be adjusted for controlling the direction of admission of the suns rays through the opcningstherebetween. For actuating the movable strips 80 and 83, the respective racks 87 and 85 extending transversely and longitudinally of the grid frame within the housing are provided, connected to the respective slats by means of pins 8G, whereby both sets of slats may be angularly swung to be in alignment with the suns rays or for controlling direction of the opcnings therebetween. Any suitable means, for example such as above described, may be provided 'for shifting the bars 87 and 85.

While l' have described my invention in detail and have referred to specific applications thereof. I do not. intend that my invention shall be limited to such details or to such specific applications but intend that it shall be d'elined by the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a housing for sun baths, comprising screened side and end faces, a top grid carried by the housing embodying closely spaced fixed strips and closely spaced strips pivotally supported in the housing and perpendicular to said fixed strips` a bar carried by the housing,l and manually controlledvv means within the housing for actuating said bar to adjust said pivoted strips in alignment with the suns rays.

2. A lightadinitting and view-excluding grid comprising a plurality of closely spaced strips cooperatively associated with a plural ity oi closely spaced strips extending trans-v verse to the first named strips, and means for angular-ly adjusting at least one of the sets of spaced strips to the direction of the suns raysl il. In a housing for sun bath treatment comprising view excluding but light 'admitting side and end faces, a stop grid carried by the housing embodying closely spaced fixed strips, closely spaced strips pivotally supf ported by said housing and perpendicular to said fixed strips, a bar carried by the housing, manually controlled means t'or actuating said bar to adjust said pivotcd strips in alignment -llO with the suns rays and means carried by one 4 ycarried by thev housing embodying closely spaced fixed strips. closely spaced strips pivotally supported by said housing normally perpendicular to said fixed strips, a rack bar carried by said housing, actuating means cooperating with'said bar for adjusting said plvoted strips in alil ment` withl the"y suns rays controlllng the a mission thereof within the housing, a mirror carried by one of said faces for reflecting a ortion of the suns rays to the treatment portion of said housing, and means for Ventilating the latter.

5. A housing for sun baths comprising side and end walls and.y a light admitting and view excluding top grid comprising a plurality of closely spaced strips cooperatively associated with a plurality of closely spaced strips extending transverse to the rst named strips so as to efine openings for admission of the suns rays to the interior of said hous ing and' means for angularly adjusting at least one of the sets of spaced strips to the direction of the suns rays.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my 'name this 13th day of December,

192s. GEORGE A. PROCTOR. 

